SLU-Madrid Sponsors Event on Yemen at Spain's Largest Arab Cultural Center
02/14/2024
Last week, SLU-Madrid fostered open dialogue with Sorbonne Universit茅 (France) and Paris-based think tank AESMA at Madrid's Casa 脕rabe, a center that serves as the country's gateway to the Arab and Muslim world.
The SLU-Madrid Department of Political Science participated in Aula 脕rabe Universitaria, a series of open debates and lectures. Several universities, including SLU-Madrid, partner with Casa 脕rabe to address current issues across the Arab World. Casa 脕rabe is a Spanish government initiative designed to facilitate Spain's relations with Arab cultures.
The SLU-Madrid-sponsored event almost reached Casa 脕rabe's full capacity. It was also live-streamed on YouTube. As the presenters spoke in English, simultaneous interpretation into Spanish was provided.
Barah Mika茂l, Ph.D. (Political Science), served as a commentator in a talk with Adlene Mohammedi, Ph.D., who detailed past key events and current evolutions related to Yemen.
Reflecting on Mohammedi's conference on "Yemen: Military quagmire, humanitarian tragedy, political stalemate," Mika茂l defined the conference's purpose as unpacking a "complex situation that is a consequence of the irresponsibility of regional and international actors."
Mika茂l has fostered a stable relationship between SLU-Madrid and Casa 脕rabe, making this installment his department's fourth consecutive year participating in the series.
SLU-Madrid's previous presentations at the center have touched on terrorism and radicalism in the Middle East, economics in the Persian Gulf and the Lebanese internal crises.
Mika茂l described these events as an "extension to the classroom" by helping students develop the "willingness to listen to different points of view."
All students in the M.A. in Political Science and Public Affairs attended, along with some undergraduate majors.
"It is good for students to be in touch with speakers and students from other universities," Mika茂l said.
Casa 脕rabe certifies students who have attended physically 40% or more of the Aula 脕rabe Universitaria debates with its "Passport to the Arab World."
Mika茂l and Casa 脕rabe plan to expand on the successful series. SLU-Madrid will help to develop themes and topics for next year's 6th annual Aula 脕rabe Universitaria. The Department of Political Science also hopes to establish internship agreements and additional ways of cooperating with the center.